Governor Mutfwang Orders Full-Scale Manhunt After 10 Killed in Plateau Sunday Ambush; Vows to End the ‘Unknown Gunmen’ Era

The fragile “State of Harmony” in Plateau State has been tested once again by a weekend of blood and grief. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, visibly moved by the sight of 10 fresh graves in Barkin Ladi, has declared a “zero-tolerance” policy for the attackers who shattered the peace of the Ratatis community on Sunday evening.

Visiting the mourning villages on Tuesday, February 24, the Governor stood among widows and orphans to deliver a message that was more of a command than a condolence. He has officially ordered security agencies to launch a “sweep-and-capture” operation across the Barkin Ladi and Mangu axes, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice “not in months, but in days.”

“This is not just an attack; it is a calculated attempt to undermine our investments in dialogue and reconciliation,” Mutfwang stated while addressing stakeholders at the burial site. “We are tired of hearing about ‘unknown gunmen.’ These killers are flesh and blood, and they must be found. My administration will not sit idly by while our people are hunted like game on their own ancestral lands.”

The violence has sent a chill through the state’s commercial hubs. In Jos North, the atmosphere remained tense throughout Monday and Tuesday, with many traders keeping their shutters down as rumors of reprisal attacks swirled. To counter this, the Governor has authorized a massive deployment of the “Operation Rainbow” state security outfit to complement the military’s efforts in stabilizing the metropolis.

Despite the Governor’s vow of justice, a cloud of frustration hangs over the community. Local leaders have publicly claimed that security forces were alerted to “unusual movements” in the forest days before the Sunday massacre, yet the response came only after the bodies had been counted. As the search-and-rescue teams continue to comb the bushes for the missing, the people of Plateau are waiting to see if this latest “manhunt” order will finally break the cycle of impunity that has haunted the Middle Belt for decades.